Some Notes on Offering Flowers as Worship on the Ancestral Altar
There are many types of flowers that can be offered as worship on the ancestral altar, but it is preferable to choose fresh and vibrant flowers with beautiful names and fragrances, as these are believed to bring positive energy and good luck.
Number of Flowers: Opt for an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, etc.) as odd numbers are considered yang, which carries positive energy.
Vase Selection: Choose a vase with no patterns or one with elegant, traditional patterns such as lotus flowers or ink paintings.
Large Ancestral Altar (Gia Tien): For a larger altar, select a taller vase, around 30-40cm in height, to accommodate longer-stemmed flowers such as lilies, lilies-of-the-valley, or lilies.
Small Ancestral Altars: For smaller altars, a smaller vase, approximately 15-25cm in height, is more suitable for flowers such as daisies or roses.
During the full moon of the seventh lunar month, arranging flowers on the ancestral altar should follow the principle of “East for vases, West for fruits,” creating harmony and deep spiritual meaning. When facing the altar and looking outwards, consider the following:
East Side (Left): Place the vase of flowers here. The East symbolizes new beginnings and vibrant life, as it is where the sun starts its daily journey. Placing flowers on this side attracts positive energy and signifies prosperity and success.
West Side (Right): Display a tray of five types of fruits on this side. The West represents maturity and the fruits of one’s labor. Flowers bloom before fruits ripen, symbolizing the natural cycle of life and the crystallization of one’s efforts.
If your ancestral altar is spacious, you can place two symmetrical vases on either side, with the fruit tray in front, creating a balanced and harmonious worship space.
Prioritize Fresh and Vibrant Flowers for Worship
Discover the Types of Flowers for the Rằm Tháng 7 Festival That Bring Prosperity and Good Fortune
1. Chrysanthemums: Chrysanthemums are a popular choice for festive occasions, including Rằm Tháng 7. In feng shui, they symbolize life and bring blessings of happiness, luck, and success. There are two common types used for worship:
Yellow Chrysanthemums: Associated with the metal element in the five elements theory, these flowers represent filial piety, longevity, and abundant blessings.
White Chrysanthemums: With their gentle beauty and graceful appearance, white chrysanthemums are often chosen for ancestral worship.
2. Lilies: Lilies exude purity and fill the air with their sweet fragrance, creating a refreshing and solemn atmosphere.
White Lilies: Typically, these are the local variety, with small, elegant white blooms, symbolizing peace and tranquility.
Red Lilies: Representing purity, fullness, and abundance, red lilies are a wonderful choice.
3. Gladioli: Also known as sword lilies, gladioli are a common choice for worship, conveying purity, elegance, and refinement. Their longevity makes them ideal for altar displays, symbolizing enduring emotions, warmth, and happiness.
4. Lotuses: The national flower of Vietnam, lotuses embody purity, enlightenment, and elegance. In feng shui, they symbolize luck, success, and happiness, often offered at the ancestral altar during important ceremonies.
5. Marigolds: According to feng shui beliefs, marigolds attract wealth, prosperity, and good fortune. These flowers are typically offered at the altar of the God of Wealth, seeking blessings for business ventures and dispelling bad luck for the family.
6. Red Roses: Red roses create a solemn atmosphere for worship, symbolizing luck, love, peace, and gratitude. The red color signifies good fortune, happiness, and thriving financial luck, making them a popular choice for altars, especially that of the God of Wealth.
Prayers for the Rằm Tháng 7 Festival to Worship Ancestors and Gods
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat!
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat!
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat!
We sincerely bow to the Nine Directions of Heaven, the Ten Directions of the Buddha, and the Ten Directions of the Buddha. We bow to the Yellow Emperor, Hou Tu, and all the revered gods. We bow to the Eastern God of War. We bow to the God of the Land and the local gods. We bow to the Five Directions, the Five Soils, and the Five Virtues. We bow to the gods of the past and present, the gods of wealth, and the gods who rule over this area.
Our names are [your names] and we live at [your address].
Today is the 15th day of the 7th month in the year of the Dragon. On this special day, we sincerely prepare incense, flowers, gold, silver, tea, and fruit to invite the Nine Years Old Tai Sui Chi Deity, the City God, the Dragon Vein God, the God of the Land, the Five Soils, the Five Directions, the Kitchen God, the Five Virtues, and all the gods who rule over this area.
We invite you to listen to our invitation, to have compassion for the family, to descend before the case, to witness our sincerity, to enjoy the offerings, to protect and help our family to be happy, to prosper in our work, to be safe, to increase our fortune, to fulfill our wishes, and to open our minds.
We offer our sincere prayers and offerings before the case. May the Buddha bless us.
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat!
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat!
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat!
Prayers for the Rằm Tháng 7 Festival to Worship Ancestors
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat!
Nam Mo A Di Da Phát!
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat!
We bow to the Nine Directions of Heaven and the Ten Directions of the Buddha.
We bow to our ancestors and all the departed souls.
Our names are [your names], and we live at [your address].
Today is the 15th day of the 7th month of the year 2024. As we approach the Vu Lan festival during the Trung Nguyen season, we remember our ancestors and parents who gave birth to us, built our family, and laid the foundation for our lives. Thanks to their virtues, we now enjoy their blessings.
We are forever grateful for their kindness and hard work. With sincerity, we prepare offerings of incense, flowers, tea, fruit, gold, and silver, and light a stick of incense to invite our ancestors, including our great-grandparents, great-grandparents, uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins, and all the souls of our family and extended family.
We ask that you have compassion for your grandchildren, that your spirits be present, that you witness our sincerity, that you enjoy our offerings, and that you protect us so that we may be healthy and peaceful, that our wealth may prosper, that all things may be well, that our family may prosper, and that we may be guided towards righteousness.
We offer our sincere prayers and offerings before the case. May the Buddha bless us.
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat!
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat!
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat!
Prayers for the Rằm Tháng 7 Festival to Worship All Beings
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat (3 times).
We bow to the Nine Directions of Heaven and the Ten Directions of the Buddha.
We bow to the Buddha Amitabha.
We bow to Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.
We bow to the Kitchen God.
As the 7th month draws to a close, it is time to forgive the sins of the dead.
The gates of the underworld open, and the homeless souls wander.
Great Saint, Teacher of Examination – Ananda
Receive the homeless souls from the four directions, with no graves or graves, no shelter, wandering day and night, cold and hungry, without even a thin coat to protect them from the chill.
Gather the lost souls of the young and old, male and female, and bring them here.
Now, hear our invitation and accept our offerings of food, drink, and gold and silver.
Take these offerings and the clothes we have prepared for you, and may you always protect and bring prosperity to our family.
Remember the day of forgiveness, and come to us when we invite you again.
Now that you have received our offerings, please return to the underworld, and may the gods witness our deeds.
We, [your names], husband and wife, residing at [your address], have prepared these offerings with sincerity.
